Concrete-mixer.



W. L. KELLER.

CONCRETE MIXER.

LPPLIOATION FILED $211.15, 1910.

1,015,687. Patented Jan.23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. L. KELLER.

CONCRETE MIXER.

APgLmATIoN FILED APR.15, 1910.

1,015,687., Patented Jan.23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HHHHHI W. L. KELLER. CONCRETE MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1910.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6 mLf ezar W. L. KELLER.

CONCRETE MIXER. APPLICATION LEIVLED APR.15, 1910.

5,687, Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

a SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I'll

W. L. KELLER. CONCRETE MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1910.

1,015,687. Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W. L. KELLER.

CONCRETE MIXER. APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 15, 1910.

1,015,687. Patented Jan.'23,1912. v

6 SHEETS-SHEBT 6.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KELLER, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

CONCRETE-MIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial No. 555,679.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

' a mixing machine in which the different materials are-fed in predetermined quantities to a revolving mixing table'and thoroughly mixed and blended, while exposed to view.

A further object is to provide means for spraying the materials during the mixing operation, and means for discharging the mixture at one end of the machine.

A further object is to provide a mixing table having co-aot-ing mixing elements mounted for rotation above the same and movablein a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of said table.

A further object is to provide means for rotating the mixing table and mixing ele ments at different speeds, thereby to constantly shift or cha e the location of the materials on the sur ace of the table and thus effect a thorough mixing of said materials.

A further object is to rovide a machine, the construction of whic is such that the same ma be operated continuously or used as a bate mixer.

-A stillfurther object of the inventionis generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efliciency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

. -For-a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following descri tion and accompanying drawings, m which: i

igure 1 IS a perspective view of a mixing machine constructed in accordance with my invention, looking 'at the front thereof; Fig.

2 is a similar view looking atthe rear end of the machine; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View; Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the hopper and its associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a' detail perspective view of the water tank or reservoir, showin the manner of operating the pump; Fig. perspective view illustrating a modified form of mixing element; Fig. 8 is a similar view,showing a different manner ofdriving the feeding device; Fig. 9 is a top plan view illustrating a further modification; Fig. 10 is a detail perspective "iew of a modified form of liquid sprayer.

Correspond'ng and llke parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The "machine comprises a supporting frame 5 preferably formed of channel-iron and provided with front and rear ound wheels 6 and 7 by means of which te machine may be readily transported from one place to another. connected by an axle 8 having a king bolt ,9 which projects through a head block 10 interposed between the converging ends 11 of the supporting frame, as shown, so as to*allow free ivotal-movement of the front wheels and t us permit the machine to makerelativelyshort turns. Extending diagonally across the supporting frame 5 is a U-shaped frame 12, the side bars 13 of which are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the adjacent channel-bars of the su porting frame, while the lower end of the with a centrally disposed boss 14 aving a is a detail The front wheels 6 are rame 12 is 'rovided socket formed therein which constitutes a bearing fora mixing table 15. The mixing table 15 is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane and is ending trunnion or pm 16 which fits withm the socket ofthe boss 14 so as to permit rotation of the table on the U-shaped frame 12. Secured to the bottom of the mixin table 15 is a circular rack 17, the teeth 0 which-mesh with a bevel pinion 18 carried by a stub shaft 19, the latter being journaled in the main supporting frame and provided with a terminal sprocket wheel 20. Disposed above the mixing table 15 and secured in any suitablemanner to the provided with a deblades 42 adapted to fee side bars 13, is a hopper 21 having a transverse partition 22 defining independent compartments 23 and 24, one of which is adapted to contain sand or sand and gravel and the other cement.

Secured to or formed integral with the which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured.

a feeding device, preferably inthe form of a screw conveyer 28, the'latter being mounted for rotation within the enlarged portion of the casing 25 andbeneath the discharge end of the sand compartment 23. --Loosely mounted on the driving shaft 27 and ar-' ranged to rotate within the contracted portion 26 of the casing, is a feeding device or screw 29 for feeding cement from the comartment 24 to the mixing table. The blades of the feeding device 29 are secured -to a sleeve 30, the latter being journaled in the adjacent sidebar 13 and provided with a gearwheel 31 having a centrallydisposed' opening formed therein to permit the passage of the adjacent end of thedriving shaft 27. Secured to the projecting endof the shaft 27 is a bevel pinion 32 which meshes with a pinion 33 formed on a vertically disposed stub shaft 34. The shaft 34 is journaled in suitable brackets 35 extending laterally from one of the side bars of the U- shaped frame 12 and keyed to and mounted for-vertical sliding movement on said stub shaft is a pinion 36, the teeth of which are adapted to mesh with any one of a series of concentrically disposed teeth 37 formed on the gear wheel 31, thereby .to rotate the feeding device 29. Thus it will be seen that by adjusting the pinion 36 vertically of the stub shaft 34, the speed-of the feeding device 29 may be'controlled at will so as to feed the sand -and cement in predetermined quantitiesto the mixing table.

Mounted on the sidebars 13 are horizontally disposed bars 38 having terminal bearings 39 in which are journaled mixing and 41 are provided with s irally disposed the materials transversely of themixing table as the latter revolves, thus to thoroughly mix the .materials preparatory to molding the same into the desired shape.

' The horizontal bars 38 are secured to the side bars 13' b bolts or similar fastening devices 43, whlch latter pass through suitable slots 44 formed in said side bars so as t fee ing devices 40 and 41 and thus prevent emit a slight vertical movement of the injury to the blades 42 should the latter strike a stone or other obstruction in the sand or cement.

The shafts 45 of the mixing elements are projected longitudinally beyond the bearings in one of the horizontal bars 38 to form supports for sprocket wheels 46 and 47 over which passes a sprocket chain 48, the latter also engaging the teeth of the sprocket wheel 20 on the stub shaft 19 and a similar sprocket wheel 49 mounted on the adjacent end of the driving shaft 27. The sprocket wheels 46 are of different sizes so as to cause one of the mixing elements to rotate faster than the other and thus insure a thorough mixing of the different materials. Fingers 50 are secured to the horizontal bars- 38 and adapted to rest on thesup'porting frame 5 so as to prevent the spiral blades of the mixing elements from dragging on the upper surface of the table during the mixing operation.

Attention is here called to the fact that the mixing devices 40 and 41 are mounted for rotation in a plane at right angles to the plane of rotation of the mixing table 15 so as to move the materials transversely across. the table and thus effect a thorough blending of the same. The mixing devices being arranged to travel at different speeds and mounted to rotate faster than the table 15, the materials deposited on said table from the hopper will be first mixed and then discharged at the rear end of the frame, the'channel bars constituting the framebeing cut-away at 51 to permit the ready discharge of the mixture into a wheel-barrow can see the amount of each material forming the mixture.

Disposed on one side of the hopper 21 is a tank or reservoir 52 adapted to contain a quantityfof water for spraying the materials during the mixing operation. Extending laterally from one side. of the tank 52,

I is a supply pipe 53 having a depending noz-v zle 54 and provided with check valves 55 and 56, there being av turning plug or valve 57 disposed above the spraying nozzle 54 for controlling the flow of liquid to the mixing table. Extending laterally from the supply-pipe 53 is a pump 58, the piston 59 of which terminates in an, eccentric strap 60 which engages an eccentric 61 mounted on the driving shaft 27 so that as the shaft 27' rotates, the water in the tank 52 will be forced through the pipe 53 and nozzle 54 to the: materials on' the mixing table. The check valve 55 prevents the water from being forced back into the tank 52 on the outward strokeof the piston 59', while the check valve 56 prevents the discharge of water through the nozzle 54 when the pump is operatedto draw water into the supply pipe. Anv overflow pipe 62 forms av source of communication between thesupply pipe 53 and tank 52 for conducting excess water back into the tank 52 should the pump work too rapidly, there being a check valve 63 formed in the overflow pipe, as shown.

The hopper 21 is reinforced and strengthened by the provision of an inverted U- shaped brace 64 having its opposite ends rigidly secured to the supporting frame 5 and its intermediate portion extended between the tank 52 and said hopper and rigidly secured to the latter. brace 65 is also preferably disposed; on one side of the machine for supporting the forward ,end of the hopper 21.

Detachably secured to one end of the shaft 27 is a crank 66 by means of which said shaft may be rotated to'actuate the several parts of the machine. If desired however, the front or converging end of the supporting frame 5 may be widened and provided with a platform upon which may be mounted a motor for operating the machine.

In operation, the sand and cement is shoveled or otherwise introduced into the mpartments 23 and 24, and the shaft 27 rotated by turning the crank 66, motion being transmitted through the medium of the sprocket chain-48 and bevel gear 18 to the mixing table to rotate the same, and through the medium of the sprocket wheels 46 to the mixing devices and 41, as before stated.

' As the crank 66 is rotated, the feeding devices or screw conveyers 28 and 29 will feed the materials from the compartments 23 and 24.- in predetermined quantities to the casing 25, which materials will be discharged through the open end of the casing onto the mixing table between the mixing devices 40 and 41. As the shaft 27 revolves, the pump 58 will force water from the tank 52 through the supply pipe 53 to the spraying nozzle for the purpose of wetting the materials during the mixing operation, the amount of liquid discharged through the spraying nozzle being controlled by the valve 57.

During the rotation of the mixing devices and table, the. materials-deposited on the latter will be taken up by the mixing devices and moved transversely across the table, the mixture being discharged at the rear of the machineinto a wheel-barrow or other suitable receptacle, as before stated.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, there is a modified form of the invention in which the mixing blades 67 are provided with peripheral recesses or notches 68 for the purpose of assisting in agitating and mixing the mate rials- .as the table revolves. If desired, a flat friction disk 69 maybe substituted for the gear wheel 31, in which case, a relatively An inclined.

. feeding devices or screws'may be. varied at will so as to regulate the proportions of materials fed to the mixing table.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated a further modification, in which theframe of the machine is preferably formed of flat metal and provided with a rectangular portion 71-adapted to receive and support a motor or engine. In this case, a driving shaft 72 is journaled in the rectangular portion 71, one end of said shaft being provided with 'a belt pulley 73 for connection with the engine and the other end thereof provided with a pinion 74 which meshes with the rackon the bottom of the revolving table, as shown. The stub shaft 34' is also preferably disposed in a horizontal plane, while the rear axle 75 is journaled in a de pending bracket and extends transversely across the frame beneath the revolving table. In Fig. 10 there is shown a spraying device for automatically controlling the flow of water to the materials deposited on the mixing table, the quantity of water delivered to the table being regulated according to the amount of material deposited thereon. In this case, the liquid supply pipe 76 is provided with a valve 77 'to one end of which is secured a cut off lever 78 having a terminal blade. or paddle 79, which latter normally rests on the upper surface of the mixing table, as shown. Thus it will be seen that as sand and cement is deposited on the mixing table, the materials, by contact with the blade 79 will elevate the latter and open the valve 77 so as to permit the water to flow through the nozzle 80. When the concrete is discharged from the revolving table, the blade 79 will drop by gravity in contact with the upper surface of the table and thus automatically cut off "the flow of water to the discharge nozzle. The supply of water to the mixing table may also be 11 automatically out off by reversing the dlrection of rotation of said table, as will be readily understood. 7

From the. foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation 1 0 across the upper face of the table for substantially the entire width thereof and operable to feed the material transversely of 2. In a mixing machine, a table, means for rotating the table in one direction at a in said direction,

' vertical plane predetermined speed tocarry the material co-acting mixing elements extending transversely across the upper face of the table for substantially the entire width thereof, said mixing elements being mounted for rotation in the same direction relative to each other and operable to feed the material transversely of the table, and means for rotating the mixing elements at different speeds and in a direction 0 posite to the direction of rotation of the tab e, said mixing elements and table co-acting to eject the material at a given point on the periphery of said table.

3. Ina mixing machine, a table, means for rotating the table in one direction to carry the material in said direction, a mixing element mounted for rotation in a different direction above the table and rovided with spiral blades operable to eed the material transversely of the table, said mixing element being freely movable in a toward and from said table, and means for rotating the mixing element at a different rate of speed from that of the table, said mixingelemen't and table co-acting toeject the material at a given point on the periphery of said table.

4. In a. mixing machine, a revolving table mounted for rotation in one direction'at a predetermined speed forcarrying the material in said direction, co-acting mixing elements freely movable in a vertical plane toward and from the table for feeding the material transversely of said table, and means for rotating the mixing elements at different speeds, each greater than that of the table, said table and mixing elements co-acting to ejec-t the material at'a given point on the periphery of the table.

5. In a mixing machine, a table mounted for rotation in one direction for carrying the material in said direction a hopper, coacting mixin elements extending across theupper" face 0 the table for substantially the mixing element,

entire width thereof and provided with spiral mixing blades operable to feed the material transversely of the table, means for rotating the mixing elements in the same direction, but in a irection opposite to the direction of rotation of the table,,means for conveying the materials from'thehopper to the mixing'blades, and means for spraying the materials during the mixing operation, said mixing elements and table co-acting to eject the material at a given point on the periphery of said table.

6. In a mixing machine, a supporting frame, a table mounted for rotationin one direction on the frame and provided with ,a

rack, a stub shaft having a bevel pinion meshing with the rack and provided with a sprocket Wheel, a driving shaft having a sprocket wheel secured thereto, coacting mixing elements mounted for rotation in the same direction above the table freely movablein a vertical plane toward and from said table, a'sprocket wheel secured to each and a sprocket chain engaging'the sprocket wheels of the mixing elements and extending over the sprocket wheels on the stub shaft and driving shaft, respectively, said table being mounted for rotation in a different direction and at a difi'erent rate of speed from the mixing elements.

7. In a mixing machine, a supporting frame, a supplemental frame mounted on the supporting frame and provided with a bearing, a table mounted for rotation in one direction in said bearing for carrying the material in said direction, co-acting mixing elements disposed above the table and mounted'for rotation in adiiferent direction to feed the material transversely of the table, said co-acting mixing elements being free-t0 move vertically in the supplemental frame toward and from the upper face of the table,.and means for rotating the mixing elements, said table and mixing elements co-acting to eject the material at a given point on the periphery of said table.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ii. KELLER. 1,. 3; Witnesses i M. J. GRAHAM, H. F. NnAL. 

